Making a Gingerbread House

Two years ago I made my first gingerbread house. It is such a rewarding, creative experience that I am looking forward to it again this year. Maybe it is my love of renovating homes or the artistic energy that goes into gingerbread house making. But the whole process is positively rewarding.

Which Dough Recipe to Use

There are many gingerbread house dough recipes online. Here is one from Sally’s Baking Addiction and another from Martha Stewart. The key to good gingerbread house building dough is that it is flavorful and sturdy enough to hold up to construction. Plus it smells great while baking.

Using a Template

You can make your own templates or get various ones online. The templates I use are from Martha Stewart, purchased in the 1990s and apparently lost the instructions. Thankfully the template pieces are labeled.

The smaller pieces I cut on the counter as the larger ones are done in place on the cookie sheet, so I didn’t have to move them and risk breakage.

Baking the Gingerbread pieces

Gingerbread is a little difficult to bake because you are already starting with a darker colored dough. I can typically tell when something is finished baking by the smell. Too much baking and you will of course smell it burning, but refer to the recipe to bake it for the right amount of time.

Baking can result in some of the edges expanding. Use a paring knife to trim off the excess. Having square edges helps during assembly for a more solid structure.

The Details

A large cardboard base covered in aluminum foil makes for a good foundation for your project.

If your house has windows, you can easily make window panes using butterscotch candies. This may sound intimidating, but this is a very easy technique with fabulous results.

Smash the candies into bits and then pour onto parchment paper in the rough form and size of the windows.

In a few minutes, the candies melt in the oven. After cooling, they readily peel off the parchment paper and are ready to install.

Assembling the Pieces

After all the pieces are baked and windows created, construction can begin! There are several recipes for Royal icing online for gingerbread construction. Three simple ingredients ~~confectioners sugar, egg whites and cream of tartar makes a sturdy glue. Apply with a pastry bag makes the process easy and helpful.

Using the Royal icing “glue” the windows to the inside of the walls.

Look how pretty the windows look with light passing through the “glass”.

Time and patience are essential next. It is important to wait for the royal icing to dry after each section is put together. If not, collapse is inevitable.

Before the roof goes on, place the battery operated fairy lights inside.

This is the fun and creative part for me~~decorating the outside with various candies and confections, pretzels and coconut.

Use Two different candies~small York minis and Hershey’s milk drops. Place them in an alternating pattern for the roof tiles. Start with a thin stripe of Royal icing and set the candies in rows.

For texture on the chimney, use chocolate bark. Hershey chocolate pieces and pretzels adorn the windows and corners.

With the extra gingerbread dough, I make trees and a wreath with a cookie cutter.

Long drips of Royal icing along the roof line mimic snow and ice crystals. Pretzels add trim to the doors and windows. Hershey’s chocolate pieces are the shutters to each window.

Use food coloring to tint the Royal icing. Here I use green for the trees and wreath; red for the bow and tree ornaments.

Small fairy lights along the roof line add sparkle and chocolate squares create an entrance walkway. The possibilities for decorating a gingerbread house are endless~use your imagination.

Mr. and Mrs. Gingerbread get custom outfits too!

A puff of fiberfill or snow makes the chimney smoke.

Other Gingerbread Decorating Ideas

Each year I try and do something different. Here is a hen house and a camping trailer my daughter and I made in 2020.

Drool Worthy Gingerbread Houses

Someday, I would love to be able to create such amazing gingerbread houses such as these. There are so many ideas and photos on Pinterest.

But until then, I will continue to enjoy the process of making ones for the holiday. It is truly a fun project for you and your family, especially the decorating part.

Have you made a gingerbread house or other creation? If so, please tell me all about it.

Happy Tuesday!